5 Days Kunming Shangri-La Tour: Stone Forest & Tibetan Pure Land
Must-see & Must-do：
Highlight 1: Discover Kunming, the hometown of Zheng He (the famous Ming Dynasty navigator) and Nie Er (the composer of China’s national anthem, The March of the Volunteers). Relaxing vacation in Kunming, known as the “Spring City” and “Flower City.”
Highlight 2: Explore the Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness the ancient sea’s transformation into a captivating natural wonder, and delve into the unique karst landforms, rich geological history, and the accompanying Yi ethnic culture.
Highlight 3: Visit the over 1,200-year-old Yuantong Temple, China’s oldest Guanyin Temple, known for its distinctive “Downhill Temple” design. Instead of ascending steps, one gradually descends upon entering the mountain gate. This temple holds high repute in SE Asia.
Highlight 4: Take a stroll in Green Lake Park, once a marshy bay of Dianchi Lake, renowned as the “Green Gem” and “Jade within the City” of Kunming. Visit historic building while Join locals walking, feeding fish, dancing, and enjoying local life.
Highlight 5: Ascend to the “Little Potala Palace”, Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Explore its grand halls, and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and shimmering Lamuyangcuo Lake.
Highlight 6: Relax in Pudacuo National Park, the first national park in China, and discover a landscape that feels like a lost paradise on Earth. Hike around Shudu Lake and Bita Lake, and soak up the breathtaking beauty of the lakes, pastures, and forests.
Highlight 7: Explore the charming Dukezong Ancient Town, a 1,300-year-old gem nestled along the ancient Tea Horse Trail. Hike up Guishan Hill and join locals in turning the world’s largest prayer wheel, a symbolic act believed to bring good luck and happiness.
Itinerary Quick Look：
Welcome to Kunming, the Capital City of Yunnan Province! Upon arrival in Kunming, your guide will meet you at the airport/train station and escort you to your hotel. You can have a good rest to overcome the jet lag in your hotel. You can explore on your own based on your arrival time. Feel free to seek practical suggestions from your tour guide.
Kunming is known as the “Spring City春城” due to its mild year-round climate, making it a popular destination for people from other cities to escape harsh winters or scorching summers. The pleasant climate also results in flowers blooming throughout the year, earning Kunming the nickname “Flower City花都”. Kunming is the hometown of Zheng He (郑和1371-1433), the famous Ming Dynasty navigator who led seven voyages from 1405 to 1433, visiting numerous countries in Asia and Africa. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape, cultural immersion, or a chance to explore breathtaking natural wonders and indulge in delicious Yunnan cuisine, Kunming has something to offer everyone.
Free Time Ideas:
1. Explore Yunnan’s diverse minority cultures at Yunnan Ethnic Village, Yunnan Museum of Minority (closed on Mondays), and enjoy the scenic views at Haigeng Park near Dianchi Lake (Meet Black-Headed Gulls from Siberia in winter).
2. Enjoy a Kunming City Walk from Eastern and Western Pagodas (Landmarks in Kunming) to Jinma and Biji Archways (Symbols of Old Kunming), Kunming Flying Tigers Museum (Kunming Museum, Learn about a significant chapter in World War II), and Jingxing Flower and Bird Market (A calling card of the local life in Kunming).
3. Unveil the amazing Yunnan Food by visiting Daguan Zhuanxin Farmers’ Market (all kinds of delicious flowers, mushrooms, ferns, insects, Ham, Rushan cheese, local snacks) and try Yunnan cuisine while strolling around Nanqiang Pedestrian Street (since the Qing Dynasty) and Nanping Pedestrian Street (a historic old street).
Arrival Ideas:
Kunming serves as the gateway city to start a Yunnan Tour.It is a convenient base for exploring nearby top destinations, such as Dali Ancient Town, Dongchuan Red Land, Jiangshui Ancient Town (Zhujia Garden), Yuanyang Rice Terraces (Honghe Hani Rice Terraces), Xishuanbanna, and more. You can choose to reach Kunming by Flight or By Bullet Train.
- By Air: Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) offers many direct international flights to destinations such as Laos (Vientiane), Thailand (Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Phuket), Vietnam (Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh), Cambodia (Siem Reap), Nepal (Kathmandu), India (Kolkata), Sri Lanka (Colombo), Japan (Tokyo) , Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Singapore. There are many direct flights between Kunming and China’s Top Tourist Cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and more. From Kunming, you can easily take a flight to top destinations in Yunnan, such as Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-la, & Xishuanbanna.
- By Train: Kunming is served by Kunming Railway Station and South Railway Station. There are many high-speed trains connecting Kunming to other cities in Yunnan, such as Dali (2.5hrs), Lijiang (4hrs), Xishuanbanna (3.5hrs), as well as other cities in China, including Guiyang (2hrs), Chongqing (4hrs), Chengdu (5.5hrs), Guangzhou (7hrs), Hong Kong (7.5hrs), Beijing(11hrs), Shanghai(11hrs), etc. Additionally, there is a Kunming to Vientiane train (China-Laos Railway) that takes approximately 10 hours.
This morning, drive 80km (1.5 hours) to the Stone Forest (a World Heritage Site of South China Karst) for a Kunming Excursion. Afterwards, return to downtown for a Classic Kunming City Tour, including visits to Yuantong Temple (a Zen Buddhist temple), Green Lake Park (Cuihu Park), and more, based on your available time and interests.
In the morning, visit the Stone Forest (a World Heritage Site of South China Karst), a must-see natural wonder that was once submerged under an ancient sea. The Kunming Stone Forest (Shilin) is a national geological park famous for its unique stone forest scenery, which represents the magnificent transformations of the natural world over 270 million years (marine sedimentation → crustal uplift → volcanic lava coverage → erosion and leveling → formation of the Stone Forest). Within the Stone Forest, you can closely observe the traces left by the passage of time and gain an understanding of its distinctive karst landforms, rich geological history, and the accompanying Yi ethnic culture. A sightseeing bus will take you to explore the Big Stone Forest and Small Stone Forest. In addition to the touching legend of Ashima (阿诗玛, a symbol of Yi ethnic culture), the Stone Forest also served as a filming location for “Journey to the West” (1986 TV series西游记), where Sun Wukong (Monkey King) was depicted as being trapped under Wuxing Mountain (五行山). Use your imagination to discover the magical shapes of the stone forests.
After that, you will head back to Kunming for Yuantong Temple. Located in the city center, Yuantong Temple combines tranquility amidst the bustling surroundings, offering a unique water courtyard temple. The temple has a history of over 1,200 years and is the oldest Guanyin Temple in China. Particularly noteworthy is its “Downhill Temple” design, where instead of ascending steps after entering the mountain gate, one descends gradually, creating a rare architectural feature among temples in China. Yuantong Temple is the only sacred place in the country that simultaneously accommodates the Han, Southern, and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. At the rear of the temple, there is a typical Southeast Asian Buddhist architectural structure called the Bronze Buddha Hall (铜佛殿), which was built in 1985 specifically to house a bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha presented by the Buddhist Association of the Kingdom of Thailand. It has gained a high reputation in the Southeast Asian area and attracts many pilgrims and locals to visit every year.
Then, you can hike in Green Lake Park (Cuihu Park翠湖) which is 700m away from Yuantong Temple. Cuihu Park was once a marshy bay of Dianchi Lake, which later became a city lake during the Ming Dynasty. It earned its name from its “emerald waters on all sides, bamboo green in all seasons, willow green in spring and summer,” and is renowned as the “green gem” and “jade within the city” of Kunming. Two embankments divide the lake into four parts. The north and south embankments, known as Ruandi (阮堤), were constructed during the reign of Emperor Daoguang by Governor Ruan Yuan, inspired by the Su Causeway in West Lake. The east and west embankments, called Tangdi, were built during the Republican era. Besides historical buildings and former residences of famous people, there is a sculpture of Nie Er (聂耳;1912-1935), one of the pioneers of modern Chinese music, who composed China’s national anthem, “The March of the Volunteers”. Today, Cuihu has become a place where locals take walks, feed fish, observe Black-headed Gulls migrating from Siberia during winter, enjoy lotus flowers, watch flower lanterns, dance, and savor life.
Head back to your hotel and have a good rest at your hotel.
Free Time Ideas:
- Kunming Old Street(1km from Cuihu Park), with a history of over 900 years, is the only remaining old street in Kunming that retains its ancient charm. Stroll on stone-paved roads, you can taste authentic Yunnan Rice Noodles (Yunnan Cross-bridge Rice Noodle云南过桥米线), explore fascinating Yunnan antiques & traditional medicine shops, visit the former residence of Nie Er (聂耳故居), and more old buildings.
- Yunnan Impression(云南印象) is a performance (one of the representative’s works by Yang Liping杨丽萍, a renowned local dance artist from Yunnan) held at 8:00 p.m. It draws inspiration from the ethnic dance elements of various ethnic groups in Yunnan, such as Yi, Wa, Tibetan, Hani, Dai, Bulang, and Jinuo. It incorporates modern dance elements, showcasing the rich ethnic charm of Yunnan.
This morning, you will head to the train station in Kunming for your bullet train to Shangri-La (around 4.5 hours). Welcome to Shangri-La (香格里拉)! Nestled in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Shangri-La was formerly known as Zhongdian. This charming paradise is considered the real Shangri-La on earth. Inspired by the mythical paradise described in James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon”, Shangri-La lives up to its name. Hidden among majestic mountains, it beckons you with a landscape shrouded in mystery and legend, a place where fairytale scenery awaits.
Upon your arrival at Shangri-La’s train station, our local tour guide and driver will meet you at the exit, greet you, and escort you to the Dukezong Ancient Town area. Our local guide will assist you with hotel check-in.
Afterwards, we will visit Dukezong Ancient Town (独克宗古城), with over 1,300 years history, which is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential cluster in China. It holds the distinction of being the oldest castle along the Tea Horse Road. The name “Dukezong” translates to “Moonlight Castle built on a Stone” and it is also known as the City of Moonlight. Here, you will discover a world of traditional Tibetan houses, ancient temples, beautiful pagodas, and narrow, winding alleyways, all adorned with iconic Tibetan prayer flags of various colors. Take a hike up Guishan Hill and join the locals in turning the world’s largest prayer wheel for good luck and happiness. From this vantage point, you can capture a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire town. Afterwards, wander through the distinctive alleys and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Tibetan culture.
Optional Activities in the Evening:
In the evenings around 19:00, you’ll often see local Tibetans gathering in Sifang Square for a chance to participate in some traditional Tibetan dancing. As the evening deepens (around 21:00), the entire ancient town transforms with a warm glow as the lights come on, creating a truly charming atmosphere.
This morning, our guide will take you to visit Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺, also known as Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery), a sprawling complex perched at an altitude of 3,380 meters. Founded in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai Lama, Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. Inspired by the Potala Palace in Lhasa, it’s often referred to as the “Little Potala Palace”.
The monastery’s architecture is a fascinating fusion of Tibetan and Han Chinese styles. Currently, around 700 monks reside in its 200 associated houses. Ascend the steps and enter the monastery’s three grand halls: Zhacang Hall (the central and highest hall), Jikang Hall (dedicated to Tsongkhapa), and Sakyamuni Hall (dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha). Here, you’ll witness Tibetan monks chanting and meditating, enveloped in the monastery’s solemn atmosphere. The climb will be rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire monastery complex and the beautiful Lamuyangcuo Lake.
This afternoon, take a 25km drive (about 30 minutes) to Pudacuo National Park (普达措, also known as Potatso National Park), the first national park in China. Situated on the vast Tibetan Plateau and forming an important part of the “Three Parallel Rivers” scenic spot, the park is renowned for its pristine landscapes. Encompassing scenic hills, meadows, lakes, diverse plant life, and abundant bird species, the park is also home to over 100 endangered animals including leopards, cranes, macaques, and lynxes.
Your journey begins with a sightseeing bus ride to Shudu Lake (altitude: 3,705 meters), the park’s largest lake famed for its crystal-clear water and serene beauty. Take a leisurely hike around the well-maintained path suitable for most fitness levels. Afterwards, hop on a sightseeing bus to Bita Lake (altitude: 3,568 meters). A jewel nestled amidst the mountains and considered sacred by the local Tibetans, Bita Lake’s turquoise waters and snow-capped backdrop create a picture-perfect scene. Take another short hike around the lake, a trail that leads you deeper into the heart of the park.
As you make your way back to the hotel, to wrap up your day with a cultural immersion, visit a local Tibetan family and sample some local snacks and yak butter tea.
After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Shangri-La.
After breakfast, it is time to end your 5 Days Kunming Shangri-La tour. You will have some free time in Shangri-La and explore more on your own pace till your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to next destination.
Departure Ideas: Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is a small airport. If you leave from Shangri-La, you can fly to several destinations within China, including Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and more cities.
Extension Ideas: If you wish to extend your trip and explore other highlighted parts of Yunnan, such as Lijiang, Dali, Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Xishuangbanna, and more, we can help you with the arrangements.
Thank you for choosing HelloChinaTrip for your Yunnan tour. We are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!
What’s Included
- Guide Service: English-speaking guides provided throughout the trip.
- Attraction Tickets: Entrance tickets for all listed attractions are included, guaranteeing full visits. In case of unexpected circumstances, alternative arrangements will be discussed with the tourists.
- Transportation Arrangement: air-conditioned vehicles.
- Accommodation: Throughout the trip, stay in hotels/cities as listed in the itinerary.
- Meals: Breakfast is included at the hotel. For detailed meal information, please refer to the itinerary.
- Handling Fee:Our service from tour planning, handling, operational and finishing your trip.
What’s Excluded
- Visa;
- Optional activities and experiences recommended in the itinerary.
- Check-In and Check-Out Times: Check-in time for the hotels is generally after 14:00 (2:00 PM), allowing you to settle in and freshen up before starting your Yunnan Tour. On the day of departure, please check out before 12:00 noon to ensure a smooth transition and allow time for the hotel staff to prepare for incoming guests.
- Personal Expenses: Other personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, internet, fax, etc., within the hotel.
- Tipping: Tips for drivers and guides (Tipping practices may vary depending on the region and nature of service; it is recommended to consult the guide's opinion in advance).
- Unexpected Circumstances: In case of uncontrollable and non-agency-related factors (such as natural disasters, war, strikes), flight delays or cancellations, delayed visa processing at embassies, insufficient number of participants, the travel agency reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary. Additional charges may apply for expenses beyond the agency's control (e.g., visa fees, accommodation, meals, transportation, adjustments in airfares).
Important Travel Tips for Visiting Yunnan
1.Altitude Awareness:
Yunnan is a highly mountainous province, with many destinations situated at high elevations. Be prepared for potential altitude sickness, especially if traveling to places like Lijiang (2,400m) or Shangri-La (3,400m). Acclimate gradually and stay hydrated.
2.Dress in Layers:
Yunnan’s climate can vary dramatically, even within the same day. Bring clothing that can be easily layered, as temperatures can fluctuate significantly, especially in the highlands.
3.Pack Sun Protection:
The high-altitude sun in Yunnan can be intense. Wear sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect yourself from sunburn and UV exposure.
4.Respect Local Customs:
Yunnan is home to a diverse array of ethnic minority groups. Be mindful of local customs and traditions, and ask for permission before taking photographs of people.
5.Try Local Cuisine:
Yunnan is renowned for its diverse and flavorful cuisine. Be adventurous and sample local specialties like crossing-the-bridge noodles, Yunnan ham, and the region’s unique variety of mushrooms.
6.Prepare for Weather Variations:
Yunnan can experience sudden changes in weather, from heavy rains to snow, even during the same trip. Pack appropriate clothing and gear to be prepared for varying conditions.
By keeping these tips in mind, travelers can help ensure a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience during their visit to the stunning Yunnan province.
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Sophia O’Connor –
This 5-day tour was exactly what we were looking for: a blend of natural wonders and cultural depth. From the dramatic karst formations of the Stone Forest to the high-altitude beauty of Shangri-La, everything was perfectly arranged. The custom itinerary gave us flexibility, which made the journey feel very personal and unique.
Lee –
Visiting Shangri-La had always been a dream of mine, and this trip exceeded my expectations. Walking around Songzanlin Monastery and interacting with locals gave me an authentic cultural experience. I’m so glad it was a private, tailored tour – it really felt like a journey designed just for us.
Michael Martinez –
Traveling from Kunming to Shangri-La felt like a journey through different worlds. The Tibetan monasteries, prayer flags, and peaceful lakes created a spiritual atmosphere that I’ll never forget. The fact that this was a private tour made everything smoother and more meaningful – no rush, just enjoying at our own pace.
Alice Butler –
The Stone Forest was unlike anything I had ever seen before – such a surreal landscape! Our private guide made sure we avoided the crowds and explained the local legends in detail. What I loved most was how the whole itinerary was customized for us, so we could spend more time in the places that truly fascinated us.